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16.8.2017 KWS has published an informative video that explains the opportunities of genome editing in plant breeding and outlines the position of KWS. The video summarizes the most important features of genome editing and explains the potential held by this method.

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2017– The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a nonprofit organization established through bipartisan congressional support in the 2014 Farm Bill, today joined with Bayer, Biogemma, KWS, FAPESP, Precision PlantSciences, Rijk Zwaan and CIMMYT to launch the Crops of the Future Collaborative. The new consortium will accelerate crop breeding to meet global food demand 20-50 years in the future. FFAR’s initial $10 million commitment is expected to leverage significant additional investment from partners.

Operational growth in the first quarter – Revenue increases in particular in Argentina and Brazil – Net income for the period influenced positively by special effects – Additional expenditures reduce EBIT margin expectations for the fiscal year as a whol

Revenue increased in the first half of the year – First-half income (EBIT) impacted by planned increase in spending on research and distribution – Expected EBIT margin of at least 10% at the end of the fiscal year confirmed

Einbeck, December 17, 2015 | Shareholders adopt a dividend of €3.00 a share – Approval of the profit and loss transfer agreement with KWS LOCHOW GMBH – Executive Board confirms guidance of a double-digit EBIT return for the KWS Group at the end of the fiscal year, despite a difficult economic environment All items on the agenda of today’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of KWS SAAT SE (ISIN: DE0007074007) were adopted by a large majority. With a slight reduction in the return on net income for the year to 8.5% (Previous year 8.7%), the dividend remains the same as in the previous year at €3.00. The shareholders also approved the profit and loss transfer agreement with KWS LOCHOW GMBH. The Group still aims to generate a double-digit EBIT return and to grow its net sales as well, although the situation in agricultural markets is expected to remain difficult.

December 17th, 2015 With the “ Explore Agriculture Science” program, the KWS Gateway Research Center (GRC) started a new and exciting initiative to promote students’ interest in science and agriculture. With the opening of the GRC in early 2015, Derek Bartlem and his team sought an opportunity to make a difference in the local community. To meet that goal, the GRC team built a three-session program, where high school students could actively participate in panels, exercises, and discussions, while getting to know the industry and some KWS professionals. The program aims to help students from diverse backgrounds in the St. Louis community learn more about, and be inspired by, science and agriculture. The KWS GRC team took on a mentoring role and explored the St. Louis bioscience ecosystem with the students through hands-on exploratory activities. In the final session on November 12, students worked on the KWS “Agriculture Sciences Innovation Challenge,” in which they applied their new skills to solve problems that are regularly encountered by Plant Science researchers. All of the GRC scientists contributed to the Challenge by creating scenarios that described problems they had actually experienced in their own careers; these scenarios were compiled into a game by Lorelei Davis. To play the game, the students needed to work with each other and consult with the GRC scientists in problem-solving and team-building activities. The program allowed KWS to engage with the community in a way that was exciting and meaningful for KWS professionals both in St. Louis and, via teleconference, in Einbeck. Not only did this program meet the needs of 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds looking for real-world experience in the science industry, it also engaged KWS employees who want to share their passion and spark an interest in the next generation of researchers. To implement the program, KWS partnered with Diversity Awareness Partnership, a leading non-profit organization, and BioSTL who supported KWS’ establishment in St. Louis and work to create and reinforce strong business-to-business connections. This initiative follows the KWS core mission and promotes engagement between KWS and the community. The “Explore Agriculture Science” program is a celebration of KWS’ first year in St. Louis and highlights how the GRC is making an impact through the way KWS does business. KWS GRC plans to offer the program on an annual basis. About KWS* KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. In fiscal 2014/15, 4,700 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of € 986 million and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of € 113 million. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for some 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, potatoes, rapeseed and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield and resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested € 174 million last fiscal year in research and development, 17.7 percent of its net sales. For more information: http://www.kws.com/ *All information without the inclusion of KWS’ 50/50 joint ventures Contact:
Mandy Schnell
Corporate Communications
Tel. +49-5561-311-334 mandy.schnell@kws.com KWS SAAT SE http://www.kws.com/

October 21st, 2015 Partnership combines advanced plant breeding, additional options for managing tough weeds. KWS SAAT SE and Monsanto Company announced today an extension of their partnership that will focus on helping U.S. and Canadian sugarbeet growers manage tough-to-control weeds. The new technology will seek to deliver tolerance to three different herbicides — glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba — and is expected to be commercially available in the middle of the next decade, pending regulatory approvals. Combining the strengths of two industry leaders in plant breeding and crop management solutions, this announcement marks the second collaboration between the two companies and would represent the next generation of weed control technology in sugarbeets. KWS and Monsanto partnered on the initial introduction of Roundup Ready® Sugarbeets, providing North American farmers with a valuable weed management tool and resulting in the fastest adoption of any biotech crop to date. Nicolas Wielandt, head of the Sugarbeet Division for KWS: “As a leader in sugarbeet development for almost 160 years, KWS is committed to improving productivity by bringing new technologies and innovation to sugarbeet growers. We are happy to expand the toolbox for the farmer as additional solutions for weed control are needed. We expect that this technology will increase the efficiency of sugarbeet cultivation and help to secure the competitiveness of the crop. Our intention is to make this technology available for all seed suppliers by license agreements.” Doug Rushing, Sugarbeet Industry Affairs lead for Monsanto: “Since its adoption in 2007, Roundup Ready® Sugarbeets have helped farmers lower inputs and decrease their impact on the environment by reducing the number of times they have to drive over their fields to apply herbicides. Extending this partnership with KWS illustrates how we’re constantly collaborating to help bring new solutions to farmers, and it shows the importance of working with others to be proactive in weed resistance management.” “We welcome the development of new tools to help sugarbeet growers manage weeds on their farms,” adds John Snyder, president, American Sugarbeet Growers Association. “Our farmers are among the best in the world at producing sugar and our future depends on the ability to apply new production technology in our cropping systems.” About Monsanto Company Monsanto is committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce seeds for fruits, vegetables and key crops – such as corn, soybeans, and cotton – that help farmers have better harvests while using water and other important resources more efficiently. We work to find sustainable solutions for soil health, help farmers use data to improve farming practices and conserve natural resources, and provide crop protection products to minimize damage from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. To learn more about Monsanto, our commitments and our more than 20,000 dedicated employees, please visit: discover.monsanto.com and monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows® at monsantoblog.com or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.
Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.
About KWS* KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. In fiscal 2014/15, 4,700 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of € 986 million and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of € 113 million. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for some 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, potatoes, rapeseed and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield and resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested € 174 million last fiscal year in research and development, 17.7 percent of its net sales. For more information: www.kws.com. *All information without the inclusion of KWS’ 50/50 joint ventures KWS SAAT SE http://www.kws.com U.S. Contact:
Lisa Butzer
Corporate Marketing Manager
lisa.butzer@kws.com
952-288-2461

September 22nd, 2015 After successfully participating in a marketing contest, four Chinese students recently came to Germany to take part in a job-shadowing program at KWS headquarters in Einbeck for one week. This was a unique opportunity for the winners to gain insights into a field of work of their choice, as well as give KWS further valuable exchanges on well-considered insights and opinions from the Chinese market.

Net sales in the first half of 2014/2015 increase slightly by 8.5% over the same period of the previous year – Higher expenditure on expanding distribution and production structures – Research center opened in St. Louis – Stable results expected for the year as a whole: EBIT margin of at least 10%

Effective 1st October 2014, Dr. Peter Hofmann has taken over responsibility for the Sugarbeet and Cereals product segments as well as for Corporate Marketing of the globally active plant breeding company.

On 2 September 2014, the seed companies Momont in France and KWS in Germany have signed an agreement to transfer shares from the Momont family to KWS. This agreement was concluded in the context of the close and beneficial cooperation that has connected both enterprises since 1999, when KWS acquired 49% of the capital of Momont.

Alexander Drotschmann takes over the position as Head of the KWS Corn Division with the responsibility for KWS corn activities in North and South America. He succeeds Ruediger Strohm in this position, who has scaled back his responsibilities for personal reasons. Alexander Drotschmann is an experienced “seedsman” having worked for many years in various Marketing and Sales positions for Syngenta, and most recently for Bayer CropScience in North America. His native country is Germany where he attended the University of Kiel and received a degree in Agronomy. Alexander Drotschmann will be located in St. Louis (Missouri) in the new KWS Gateway Research Center. In his new role as Head of the KWS Corn Division for North and South America he becomes a member of the AgReliant Member’s Committee, a joint venture of KWS and Limagrain for corn breeding, production, and sales in North America.

After intensive and detailed breeding activities within the cooperation between KWS and Bayer CropScience the development of sugarbeet hybrids tolerant to herbicides of the ALS inhibitor group is now in its final stage. The first tolerant varieties will be entered into European official trials very soon. The joint technology will make sugarbeet cultivation easier, flexible in its timing and more sustainable.

Innovative plant research and breeding are vital prerequisites for a sustainable increase in global agriculture productivity. KWS therefore expands its research capacities in Germany while also building up a new research facility in the USA.

Net sales in the first six months up by 1.6% to €209.5 million – Continued expansion of research and development activities and higher expenditure by the sales and production units to ensure future growth

A moderate rise in net sales and a double-digit return planned for fiscal 2013/2014 – Higher research and development expenditure to secure future growth – Foresighted succession arrangement for the Executive Board. By a large majority, the shareholders of KWS SAAT AG (ISIN: DE0007074007) have approved the proposal of the Supervisory Board and Executive Board to increase the dividend to €3.00 (previous year: €2.80) per share. The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting has thus confirmed KWS’ approach of distributing an earnings-oriented payout. The increase is in line with the 7% rise in KWS’ operating income (EBIT) to €150.7 million in fiscal 2012/2013. The other recommendations by the Supervisory Board and Executive Board were also adopted by almost unanimous consent. A foresighted arrangement for a successor to Chief Executive Officer Philip von dem Bussche, who is retiring in December 2014, was also announced at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.

Overall about 600 researchers and young professionals applied from all over the world to take part in the Falling Walls Lab 2013. The idea contest is supported by A.T. Kearney, the global management consulting firm (Founding Partner) and KWS SAAT AG (Global Partner 2013). The goal of the contest is to foster scientific and entrepreneurial innovations and promote the exchange between young talents from of all fields.

Net sales rise by more than 16% to €1,147 million – EBIT increases by 7% to almost €151 million – Brazilian operations expanded – Dividend to be raised to €3.00 – Moderate increase in net sales anticipated for 2013/2014

The Falling Walls Lab is an international forum, which aims at building and promoting interdisciplinary connections between excellent young talents from all fields. The Falling Walls Lab is organized by the Falling Walls Foundation and supported by A.T. Kearney, the global management consulting firm (Founding Partner) and KWS SAAT AG (Global Partner 2013).

On the 10th of September, the new breeding station of KWS POTATO B.V., located in the Dutch village of Nagele near Emmeloord, has been put into official operation. The KWS Group has invested more than EUR 12 million for the project. This extension of the trial area plus the investment for new research facilities clearly indicate that the company is banking on additional growth in the seed potato business. One day before the Potato Europe exhibition, KWS inaugurated the station with more than 200 guests and employees.

The media have reported that Monsanto intends to withdraw all submissions for the cultivation of genetically modified crops in farming operations in the EU. The lack of public and political support for the use of genetic engineering methods in plant breeding has been well-known at KWS for a long time. This is the reason why we do not conduct field trials with genetically modified plants in Germany anymore.

During the last two years, KWS POTATO B.V. took huge steps to establish a new central potato breeding station near Emmeloord, Netherlands. Furthermore, the company is currently adjusting its strategic focus in breeding, seed production and sales.

The Supervisory Board of KWS SAAT AG has appointed Eva Kienle as a deputy member of the Executive Board of KWS SAAT AG effective April 1, 2013. Following a period of familiarization, she will take charge of Finance, Controlling and IT effective July 1, 2013. She will succeed Hagen Duenbostel, who assumes responsibility for corn operations on July 1, 2013. That will complete the changes on the Executive Board announced in March 2012 ( in press release 10 of March 15, 2012 ).

Net sales increase by more than 15% to €986 million – Operating income (EBIT) up 21% to €141 million despite much higher R&D expenditure – Growth in all product segments – Dividend to be raised by 22% to €2.80

The discussion on green genetic engineering in Germany has reignited in the past few days. At the same time, the public discussion on plant breeding is very frequently reduced to the topic of green genetic engineering. But for KWS, as a leading plant breeding company, the subject is much more complex: plant breeding is far more than just genetic engineering.